Court hears how drug-addict woman hid crack cocaine and heroin in knickers

AN Orford woman who agreed to store crack cocaine and heroin in her knickers for a county line drugs dealer based in Padgate was caught out during a police drugs search.

Both Alice Chatten and the dealer, Johnathon Gibbons, were arrested on April 17 after plain clothes officers investigating the ‘Beebe’ county line, saw them come out of Gibbons’ home in Jurby Court in Padgate, Warrington.

“They walked in the direction of a Spar shop on Hilden Road.
Officers saw Chatten pass something to Gibbons, who has then walked up an area called the ‘Mound’ which leads into a field area out of view and covered by bushes.
“Police officers knew this area was known for Class A drug dealing. Miss Chatten has waited at the bottom of the hill,” said Andrew McInnes, prosecuting.

A short time later Gibbons came back down the hill accompanied by two men who both appeared to be Class A drug users. One left and the other walked with Chatten and Gibbons to Jurby Court.
About 40 minutes later at 11 am the defendants were again sighted walking towards the Spar shop and officers decided to detain them for a drugs search.
While being searched 37-year-old Chatten admitted she had Class A drugs inside her underwear and also had two cracks of crack cocaine in her jacket pocket.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that she and 36-year-old Gibbons were both arrested. At Runcorn custody suite Chatten produced a condom containing 39 wraps of crack and heroin with a total street value of £390.
She had £20 cash and at Gibbons’ house police recovered £735 cash and drugs paraphernalia. When interviewed neither defendant made any comment.

Chatten, of Alder Lane, Orford, pleaded guilty to possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent on the basis that she has been a Class A drug addict for some years and the previous day she was looking to buy some and was put in touch with Gibbons.
“I agreed to store the drugs seized in my knickers for him, in return for a couple of wraps of crack cocaine to feed my own habit. These were found in my jacket pocket.”
“I was rather vulnerable at the time and fearful if I didn’t comply with the request,” she stated.
Gibbons, also an addict, described by Mr McInnes as a low level street dealer, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.
His basis of plea was that he fell into debt with his suppliers and he could not afford to repay the debt in time.
“They threatened that they knew where his mother lived and would hurt them both if he did not work for them,” he stated.

Judge Simon Medland, KC, told Gibbons, who appeared via video link, that drugs had affected his mental health but he has been making great strides while in prison.
“There are things that can be done to assist your mental health.”
He sentenced him to two years imprisonment suspended for two years and imposed a 12 month mental health treatment requirement. He ordered him to carry out 30 days rehabilitation activity days.
The judge also sentenced Chatten to two years imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered her to carry out 20 rehabilitation activity days and 150 hours unpaid work.